photographic ramblings, wanderings and thoughts from a central california artist.

Monday, July 6, 2009

CLOSEST THING TO WALKING ON WATER

Closest Thing to Walking on Water

“The realms of art and surfing merge in the work of artists who surf and surfers who make art. The individuals who straddle the worlds of contemporary art and cutting-edge surfing are united by a sense of freedom from social norms and received opinions.”

-Bolton Colburn Surf Culture

This exhibition highlights the work of surfing artists and art-making surfers. This breed of creative beings is united by their alternative lifestyle and the thrill of free expression, whether it is walking on water or pushing paint across paper. Our lack of words to define the excitement we get from such simple pleasures, as brushing our hand along the face of a curling wave, is what leads us to the universal language of visual imagery. We struggle to describe how it feels when time slows as we glide through a glowing green tube at sunrise, so we attempt to capture the tactile sensation through art, virtual and poetic representation. We seek the perfect means to express the inexpressible, be it with a slab of clay or a peeling right point break. Whether we make our art about surfing because we want to relive the moment or share the exhilaration of what it means to be alive, our passion for this activity translates into our work. With this show, we investigate what motivates us as surfers and artists to capture the physical act of surfing through a variety of art forms. -Katie McLean